Even though we are both hopping mad that you are on a train from New York to Chicago I am delighted that you are having such a good time. We are the same as the rest of you what with health scares and burying friends we have reviewed our whole life and now it is just meeting friends, travelling and chatting. The dust can build up and I'm at the stage when I don't even notice.Enjoy every minute...and always know that there are those back home who are green with envy..... God, it is a while since we have been in New York!

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.William Allen White

Well it's well for ya,gallivanting all over the U.S. and we over here having to batten down the hatches to protect ourselves against hurricane Ophelia.The surround around me poor little deck has been damaged(I know it's far from a deck I was reared) I had to prop it up with some chairs. The worst would seem to have passed but we'll have to wait and see how much damage has been caused throughout the country. Some real tragedies already, a lady in a car and a young man using a chainsaw to clear a tree,may they rest in peace. Lets hope there is no more loss of life. I must say the warning we all got were very appropriate and helpful. I was able to secure most of the stuff in garden, never thought the deck surround would be affected and the slates on the roof seem to be intact so we were real lucky. I suppose you're putting on sun cream Sinéad and relaxing with a glass of wine,Shudden be Allowed. Make the best of it, we're all just jealous.

Oh Denis you gave me a laugh...it's far from decks any of us was reared!! We spent yesterday putting away garden furniture and potted plants. Thank God we were all safe. It was bad but not as bad as I expected. Those poor people who lost their lives..may they rest in peace.

I follow a fellow on facebook Irish weather on line and he is just so accurate and no drama with his reports.

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.William Allen White

Delighted for you Sinead, live and love every minute of your trip..... as a friend of mine says when it comes to medical advice : take the tablet and eat the cake !!

As for Storm Ophelia.... my sympathies to families who have lost loved ones.

I think the east coast got away lightly, hopefully those who got hit the hardest will get sorted and be back to normal very quickly. The warnings and constant updates on RTE made great TV... we had civil servants who looked like they never seen daylight as they were dusted off and shoved in front of a camera to tell us their expert opinion

Hopefully this will not become a regular event over the winter, stay safe everyone.

Have a lovely time Sinead, Chicago and New York are great cities to visit. I think Toss is correct, we got off lightly on the East Coast. My condolences to the victims who lost their lives to Ophelia. Stay safe and enjoy your trip.

I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. - George Best 1946-2005

Yes Denis, it is far from a lot of things we were reared and in most things the samecan be said of our parents, we believe they didn't have a lot but in many cases itwas more than their parents had.We can all enjoy the things we have and thank our parents for encouraging us whenpossible. Not one of us got anything for nothing, we were all out working at a veryyoung age, married young, managed to rear our children, get homes together andsave a few bob at the same time. I for one have no intention of being the richestwoman in the graveyard.Saw Hello Dolly in NY - a fantastic production. The daughter and I were in the backrow of the balcony and had a great view as we could stand up when we wanted. Wewere lucky to get these tickets at $59 each from the box office as they were returns.Life can be great at times especially when you have an watching over you.

Good on Ya Sinéad,enjoy life while you can. There is no doubt that good parents have paved the way for the benefits that we now enjoy, they were giants who lifted us up on their shoulders so that we could do likewise.

Well we nipped off for a few days in Vienna and everything was going great till last night when we heard there was to be a storm today....and we scheduled to fly home this morning. God, it was like a hurricane but fair dues to the brave Aer Lingus pilot he made two attempts to land the incoming flight in Vienna...took a lot of bottle...then one hour later he managed to get away with us all on board....the brave Irish crew. Our crew are so well trained...they looked as if they had been out for a saunter.

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.William Allen White

The individual who tried to kiss her must have been very short!If her Dad was so great why did he have her in a Bar when shewas 17, not even a lounge.God help that girl she gets to look more like Dolly Parton daily.

We always called him Christy Burke!! Poor Rosanne that is a very unflattering photo of her in the newspaper article. She must have had some unnecessary work done!! it does not enhance her. I always thought her very pretty and sensible. She must be trying to revitalise herself.

I'd say most of Dalkey must know the chap!!

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.William Allen White

Well site friends - I am back home, the plane landed 15 minutes early yesterdaymorning. Just as Rocker says, it was a bit dicey leaving New York on Sundayevening, no great ground winds but as we were rising there were great gusts. I have had the most fantastic holiday. Since 2nd October my base has beenNew York from there I travelled to Vermont, Maryland and San Francisco via Chicago. All the internal journeys were by train, a slow method of travel but much nicer than and friendlier than flying. You meet all sorts of people and hear many stories. When you say you are from Ireland you get the stories of their ancestors. The scenery is fantastic and varied. The journey taken by the settlers heading west was a mighty one. There is a spot called Immigrant Pass where everything had to be lowered down a gigantic cliff by rope. I for one would have sat and perished at the top.Amtrak trains can be very late, they do not own most of the tracks and have togive way to goods trains. On the trip west I had I travelled on the Lake Shore andCalifornia Zephyr and had roomettes on both. This is a 2 seater compartment byday which converts to a bed for the night time. They is an upper bunk if there are 2 people travelling. You can also get Rooms which have a couch, shower/ toilet anda bed. When you are a 'sleeper' passenger your meals are included, hence you getto meet lots of people when dining. It is about 12/13 years since I last travelled in this manner in the US and always said I would do it again but never found the time. Round about the end of June I decided I was going to make the trip and it took some planning. I wanted to see as many friendsas possible, who knows when I will be in the US again or they will be in Ireland. InVermont I was out in the country, a beautiful home but I would hate to be cutting thegrass or raking the leaves. The nearest town was Norwich. Maryland was anotherrural setting the closest town was Monkton. I loved visiting both these places but I am definitely a towny, I was thinking of being housebound and stranded by heavysnow falls in either place. The things we have lost - house visiting, playing cards andboard games, calling to check on neighbours, baking bread, quilting etc. - are very much alive and thriving in these communities.In Vermont I was brought to the Museum home of the man who made the ParnellMonument.Thanks to child number two I got to see Hello Dolly with Bette Midler and dine in Sardis. I also saw a show in The City Winery which was fantastic. Had I hadmore time in NY she would have had me in every possible theatre and eatery. Saw a fantastic Klimt and Rodin exhibition in California. There was a lot of smoke fromthe fires, the first 2 nights I was there we had heavy rain and wind which helped cleara lot of it. All good things must come to an end and that is my holiday over, now I have to go tothe shops and get food - no more dining out for a while.Great holiday but great to be home.

I met Grammer's Sis today. He's keeping well and in good form. Did you know when he was a kid his dad made him a guitar out of a tin with one catgut string, so he was self-taught and created his own unique style. Keep shining Grammer.

Strum wrote:I met Grammer's Sis today. He's keeping well and in good form. Did you know when he was a kid his dad made him a guitar out of a tin with one catgut string, so he was self-taught and created his own unique style. Keep shining Grammer.

and like all the toys and things our parents made they put so much love therein. He is some guitar player alright.

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.William Allen White